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Clunking gear changes r100/7
- Thread starter 79woodsie
- Start date
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- Tags
- transmission clunk
I found all three of my Airheads ('68 R50, '74 R90, and a '78 R100) all were clunky! However, with practice, and correct timing AND anticipating the correct RPM for the next gear, you can do almost perfect (but you need to be slow) shifting. My worst was going back down in the lower gears (like slowing down for a traffic light) I found it difficult to get 2nd and 1st gears until I actually stopped.
I am getting better at the down shifting each time I ride it. There is no issues going from 5th to 4th, 4th to 3rd I am still working on and down to 2nd and 1st I am not at a complete stop Buckeye but not far from it for it to be a clean shift. James, the bike is new to me so I also do not know it's service history or history of ownership. I am just excited to get it running and rideable. Checking the clutch input shaft will be put on next winters to-do list. Thanks for your input.
Woodsie, your instincts here are good. There comes a time where you are doing yourself a huge favor by just riding the dang thing. The only reason I mentioned the downshift-splines issue is that I have owned my R75/5 long enough that I ran the entire spline service interval on mine, from freshly lubed to needing the treatment again. Once you have it all sorted out and ride for several thousand miles, the bike will speak to you.
1074
Active member
Input shaft lube
Checking the input shaft for proper lube should not be put off. It's good to know the condition for future scheduling at the least. I've seen the clutch splines strip at 30k. miles. An exception, for sure, but it can happen. Much harder to repair on the side of the road than a flat tire.
Preparing a bike for the riding season should be a complete thing by knowing the condition of everything and having a schedule of future tasks based on when you did that task last. Not knowing past maintenance should be the clue that you want to go over everything in the "periodic maintenance" list just so you know that it's been done!
Checking the input shaft for proper lube should not be put off. It's good to know the condition for future scheduling at the least. I've seen the clutch splines strip at 30k. miles. An exception, for sure, but it can happen. Much harder to repair on the side of the road than a flat tire.
Preparing a bike for the riding season should be a complete thing by knowing the condition of everything and having a schedule of future tasks based on when you did that task last. Not knowing past maintenance should be the clue that you want to go over everything in the "periodic maintenance" list just so you know that it's been done!
When I purchased my 78 R100 used, I thought things like proper lubing had been done. Boy, was I wrong.
I went through everything, but only after I had a experience with the front wheel bearings. They were bone dry, and probably hadn't been greased since brand new.
Front fork oil, and brake fluid, are also two places to check right away.
Spline lube - mine needed it in the first year - symptoms? Hard shifting! I have heard of some people who able to lube the spline by simply backing the transmission back an inch - without removing it, and then using a brush of some sort and reaching in and getting some lube on the spline. I just took my trans out of bike, and did a better clean/re-lube job. Also, at the time, replace the driveshaft boot, and the 4 screws with new one that do not require the problematic washers.
There is a nicely documented series of videos on YouTube that show the overhaul process for an airhead 5 speed transmission. Links for these videos follow. The fourth video in this series provides a good look at the shift mechanism. These videos are by a fellow going by the name "Moto Phoenix".
R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 1 Special Tools
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqaXNmJ3Igg
R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 2 Dismantling the Gearbox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx_F8416uDk
R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 3 Inspection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boMi-ouHcqI
BMW R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 4 Gear Pawl Spring and Input Shaft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JJy8T2AWUc
BMW R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 5 Counter Shaft and Output Shaft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UXcXqoS6Kc
BMW R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 6 Measuring Bearing Extension
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZTfH7RPeU8
BMW R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 7 Measuring End Cover and Final Assembly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lf-91SDP1s#t=49.525397
R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 1 Special Tools
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqaXNmJ3Igg
R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 2 Dismantling the Gearbox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx_F8416uDk
R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 3 Inspection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boMi-ouHcqI
BMW R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 4 Gear Pawl Spring and Input Shaft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JJy8T2AWUc
BMW R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 5 Counter Shaft and Output Shaft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UXcXqoS6Kc
BMW R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 6 Measuring Bearing Extension
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZTfH7RPeU8
BMW R100RS Gearbox Overhaul Part 7 Measuring End Cover and Final Assembly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lf-91SDP1s#t=49.525397
pglaves
#13338
These are excellent!
They are easy videos to watch. I just watched another video of removing the gearbox to lube the spline which was good, not too difficult. Question: Considering the price of parts for these old bikes, why are these older bikes relatively inexpensive? Any serious repair is probably going to exceed the value of the bike.
I think your question answers itself. That, and the human capital that brought them to, and kept them going, for a small segment of the motorcycle riding community, is beginning to look around for assisted living options.
I was told one time that now matter what you pay for one of these older Airheads (mine was a '78) you will ultimately spend over $5,000 on it to get it up and keep it up. I had over $6,000.00 in mine!
I had justified it, in that you could purchase a better bike (time-wise and mechanical-wise) but it would cost you thousands more, and actually give you a lesser-quality ride and enjoyment. You just need to see that a $1,000 or so a year will still keep you ahead of those more expensive things. I also (used to) enjoy working on them and they usually are user-working friendly.
Rinty
New member
As part of the restoration of my "82 R100RS, I had Dave Anderson, of Anderwerks, go through the transmission. He installed the later shift mechanism and did some other magic things that I don't remember. That was a sweet shifting box.
I have to think that the '80 and later airheads, with their lighter flywheels, shift a little easier than the earlier ones.
I have to think that the '80 and later airheads, with their lighter flywheels, shift a little easier than the earlier ones.
